Advertising or like signs



July 31, 1956 J. R. SILVER ADvERTlsING 0R LIKE SIGNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1952 MR T. mm Vw. wx n n M 0 m n E J Y B Z July 31, 1956 J. R. SILVER ADVERTISING OR LIKE SIGNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19. 1952 lll l IV fl Il fl fl I l. l

IN V EN TOR.

JOSEP/'l SIL VER TTRNEY July 31, 1956 J. R. slLvr-:R

ADVERTISING OR LIKE SIGNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19, 1952 lf Il Il lf I ff Il Il if lf if ff ff ff lf if if ff INI/ENTOR.v JOSEPH SILVER TTR/VEY United States Patent ADVERTISING R LIKE SIGNS Joseph R. Silver, Akron, Ohio Application January 19, 1952, Serial No. 267,227

Claims. (Cl. 40-136) This invention relates to signs of the type used in advertising.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved sign in which names, slogans, symbols and other advertising matter maybe displayed as attractively as in a neon type of electric sign, without use of any electrical equipment of its own, and which glows effectively when exposed to almost any appreciable amount of natural or artiiicial light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign of the character described which may be economically manufactured entirely of synthetic resin plastics, in various attractive color combinations, and as a completely sealed, waterproof and dustproof casing enclosing advertising or other indicia.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sign which lends itself to sealed-in multiple layer arrangements of advertising and other indicia, whereby an infinite variety of third dimensional perspectives is made possible.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the' accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sign embodying the features of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front view of a modied form of sign embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 3, but illustrating the sign mounted on a plate glass window.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front view of a sign which is substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that the hollow letters are filled with small pieces of plastic material.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section through another modified form of sign.

Figure 8 is a similar fragmentary cross-section showing another arrangement of indicia incorporating the features shown in Figures l and 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front View of a sign incorporating, in one unit, various ideas shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and S, but in multiple layers rearwardly of a front wall.

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front View of another sign incorporating features best shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Figure 12 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 12-i2 of Figure 11.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown one form of advertising sign of suitable outline, wherein a completely enclosed, tightly sealed casing 15 of suitable ornamental shape may include a at front wall 16 the letters.

of thin, clear transparent, synthetic resin plastic material bonded, as by means of a suitable solvent, to a flange 17 of forwardly extending portions 18 of a backing member 19 of similar plastic material. For purposes to be described later, the backing member may be of white, opaque plastic material, which will reliect light forwardly without creating undesirable glare.

Bonded to the inner face of front wall 16 may be advertising or other indicia, such as letters 20 forming the words Brand Beer, as shown in phantom and full lines in Figures 1 and 2, respectively, these letters being of light-absorbing transilluminating material, such as translucent synthetic resin plastic. The letters are molded or formed to have a concavo-convex cross-section presenting narrow edge portions 21, outlining the letters bonded to the wall 16.

In use of the sign described above it is hung, as by means of a suitable cable 22in a position exposing the front face thereof to either natural or articial light. Light entering the casing through the transparent wall 16 is received or absorbed by the translucent letters 20, either directly or by reflection from the white opaque backing wall 19 (see direction lines at the top of Figure 2), and by transillumination within the material of the letters is received by the eye of an observer as a brightly luminous glow at said outlining surface portions 21 of The luminous effect is all the more attractive when the letters are of brightly colored translucent plastic materials, such as red, scarlet, purple, etc., although they may be of other colors, or even transparent. Under conditions as described it has been found that the sign will glow attractively where there is only a relatively small amount of light or where the location is shadowy.

Figures 3 and 4 show a sign made of similar materials, but wherein translucent letters 20a of concavo-convex cross-section are mounted on an opaque backing member 19a, as by means of tubular spacers 23, to present outlining edges 21a in a plane of the forward surface portions of the flange 17a. The arrangement is such that the sign may be hung or otherwise mounted with said ange 17a and edges 21a flatly against a plate glass window 24, as in a store front. The luminous glow efect outlining the letters will otherwise be the same as before.

In Figures 5 and 6 a sign 25 is constructed in the manner shown in Figures l and 2, except that the hollow portions between the concavo-convex letters Zb and the front wall 161: are filled or partly filled, with crystal-like pieces 26 of translucent or transparent, synthetic plastic resin, either colored or clear or both, and fixed in position as by means of a suitable solvent or a clear adhesive. In addition to the above described glow outlining the letters there will be a varied glowing or gleaming eifect produced on multi-facets of the pieces 26, which is very attractive to the eye of an observer. The pieces 26 may be produced as by crushing scrap plastic material of desired color.

Figure 7 shows structure similar to that described in connection with Figures 5 and 6, except that letters or other indicia 27 are formed in a transparent plastic front wall 28, to provide correspondingly shaped inwardly presented concavities 29 which are iillecl with the previous` ly described crystal-like pieces 30 of translucent or transparent plastic material. The pieces are bonded to each other and to the wall 28 by means of a solvent or adhesive material. Light absorbed by the pieces 30 produces a glowing effect as before.

In Figure 8, the casing includes an opaque backing member and a transparent front wall, as before, but the indicia are shown as being of rectangular, hollow crosssection at 32 and of solid rectangular cross-section at 33 and 34. In either case a luminous glow is attained parent plastic intermediate wall 37 providing separate `.front and back chambers 38 and 39 in the casing. fAdhered to the inner face of the front Wall 36,'the forward face of intermediate wall 37, and the inner face of backing wall 35, may be hollow, solid and filled hollow indicia 40, 41 Land 42, respectively, corresponding to L the indicia of Figures 2, 8 and 6, respectively, although the various types of indicia may be arranged in any design or combination to suit particular requirements. Also, any numbery of layers may be provided but in any event the result attained is a multiple-layer sign providing a pleasing three-dimensional*perspective of various words, symbols, designs, or scenes, or combinations of the same, at dierent depths within the casing and having a de sired Vcolor effect.

Figures 11 and l2 illustrate a possible letter and design use of the structure best shown in Figures'S and 6.. By the same method it is possible to create, as an example, a design of an eagle or other bird including a vari-colored feather effect accomplished by appropriate arrangement of small, crystal-like pieces of plastic resin as previously described.

Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of vthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A sign comprising a hollow casing having a selfcontained transparent Afront wall and an opaque lightreecting backing wall presented rearwardly of the same and adapted to reflect light received vthrough said front wall, indicia of predetermined three-dimensional configuration mounted in said veasing to present surface portions of .said configurations against said front wall, said indicia being of light absorbing transilluminating material, by which light 'by transillumination including light reected from vsaid backing wall is brightly Visible at said forwardly presented surface portions, said indicia being of yconcave-convex cross-section defining said forwardly presented surface portions as outlines of the indicia.

2. A sign comprising as'elf-contained casing having a transparent front wall and an opaque light-reecting backing `wall presented rearwardlyy of the Ysame and defining therewith a sealed chamber, and indicia of hollowed crossfsection defining forwardly presented surface portions outlining marginal edges of the indicia, said indicia being mounted on said front wall with said surface portions directly against the inner face thereof.

3. A sign comprising a self-contained casing having a transparent front wall and an opaque light-retiecting back- V ing wall presented rearwardly o f the same and defining therewith a sealed chamber, and indicia of hollowed cross-section defining forwardly presented surface yportions outlining marginal edges of the indicia, said indicia being mounted on said front wall with said surface portions directly against the inner face thereof, said indicia being of light-absorbing transilluminating material, by-

which light by transillumination is brightly visible at said outlining surface portions.

4. A sign comprising a casing having a transparent front wall and a light-reflecting backing wall presented rearwardly of the same, and indicia of hollowed crosssection defining hollow Vportions and forwardly presented -surface portions outlining marginal edges of the indicia, said `indicia being mounted on said front Wall with said surface portions directly against the inner face thereof, said indicia being of light-absorbing transilluminating material, by which light by transillumination is brightly visible at said outlining surface portions, saidrhollow portions of said indicia containing crystal-like pieces of said` light-absorbing transilluminating material.

5. A sign as set forth in claim 2, said sealed chamber containing therein crystal-like pieces of light absorbing tr-ansilluminating material.

References Cited in the tile of .this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

